I have a theory as to one reason (of many) the England National Team tends to underperform in major tournaments: the players all play in the same league. Every England international plays in the Premier League. One might argue this breeds familiarity and is therefore good for the national team, but I think it leads to a lack of stylistic variety in the team and makes the payer pool stagnant. It's basically like inbreeding, is what I'm saying.
LIVERPOOL, England — Diogo Jota's second-half header secured a 2-1 win for Liverpool over struggling Sheffield United at Anfield on Saturday but the Premier League champions were made to dig deep for the points.
Sheffield United, still looking for their first win of the season, went ahead in the 13th minute when Sander Berge netted from the penalty spot and could have increased their lead.
But Roberto Firmino levelled in the 41st minute with a tap-in and Jota rose to thump home a header in the 64th minute, shortly after Mohamed Salah had a goal ruled out by VAR.
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United remains winless at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season after it was held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea on Saturday.
United, which had lost its opening two home games of the season, has seven points from five games and is in 15th place, while Chelsea is in sixth on nine points from six games.
BIRMINGHAM, England — Leeds United's Patrick Bamford scored a second-half hat trick as they brought Aston Villa's 100% start to the season to an abrupt end with a 3-0 away victory in the Premier League on Friday.
The win moves Leeds up to third on 10 points, albeit having played an extra game, two points behind Villa, while leaders Everton, who have 13 points, are at Southampton on Sunday.
An entertaining but goalless first half at Villa Park saw the home side's England midfielder Jack Grealish go closest when his effort was cleared off the line by Luke Ayling.
At least 100 organisations have come forward to supply free school meals during half term in the UK, inspired by Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford's campaign to end child food poverty.
On Thursday, Rashford urged contributors and local businesses to tweet using the hashtag #endchildfoodpoverty, which would allow the 22-year-old to locate them.
The offers to help ranged from small sandwich shops, catering companies to big restaurant chains such as McDonald's UK.
Rashford said he was "blown away" by the response to the nationwide campaign.
Gareth Bale started for Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in seven years and helped them to a 3-0 win over Austria’s LASK in their first match of the Europa League group phase on Thursday.
Lucas Moura opened the scoring after 18 minutes and Bale’s square pass was turned into his own net by Andres Andrade nine minutes later for a two-goal halftime lead. Substitute Son Heung-min added the third in the 84th minute to ensure a winning start for Spurs to their Group J campaign.
Arsenal scored twice in four minutes to win 2-1 at Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday and spare goalkeeper Bernd Leno's blushes after his blunder handed the Austrians a shock lead.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday he is not interested in a European Super League amid reports that some elite clubs were in talks to set up a breakaway competition with the backing of the global soccer body.
In an interview published by German-language newspaper Aargauer Zeitung and other regional Swiss media, Infantino said FIFA was focused on the success of the revamped Club World Cup, which will feature 24 teams and be held for the first time in China in 2022.
AMSTERDAM — Liverpool beat Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 away with a fortunate own goal in their Champions League group-stage opener on Wednesday, riding their luck at times but still showing their title credentials.
Ajax fullback Nicolas Tagliafico turned the ball into his own net in the 35th minute to ensure a winning start in Group D for the English champions, who looked the stronger of the two teams despite Ajax creating several good chances at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
I'll admit it: I was wrong.
I picked Aston Villa as a surefire relegation candidate to begin the season.
